BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – No. 14 Auburn soccer (4-0-4) came from behind to battle to a 1-1 draw Sunday against Samford (3-2-3) at the Samford Track & Soccer Complex.
"What a great game," Tigers head coach Karen Hoppa said. "That is a really strong, veteran Samford team. I was very happy with our performance. I thought we were very dominant in the second half. We created a ton of chances, and just got unlucky on the ball that got called back. The big thing is that we're growing. We're playing a lot better and giving ourselves more opportunities. Hopefully, that will give us some offensive momentum going into SEC play."
The Bulldogs struck first, in the 13th minute, catching a lucky break on a shot from Taylor Yount that deflected off an Auburn defender to tuck inside the lower half of the left post.
Auburn responded almost instantaneously, using a cross from junior Anna Haddock in the 15th minute to find junior Maddie Simpson just inside the 18-yard box for a left-footed bullet past the Bulldogs' keeper into the back of the net.
The play denotes the second game this week with a goal from Simpson as well as the third-straight game with an assist from Haddock. Both players lead the roster in the respective categories.
"I think our offensive is starting to connect really well, we just have to finish our opportunities," Simpson said. "We're going to take this one personal and look to the next."
The Tigers would have a pair of chances to pull ahead late but could not find the bounce that was needed. In the 67th minute, Auburn appeared to be the beneficiary of a Samford own goal, but the play was called back on a Tiger foul. Again, in the 77th minute, the Orange & Blue were given a penalty kick opportunity, but Bulldogs keeper Morgan McAslan made the correct read on the shot to earn the save.
Auburn's offense outshot Samford 19 to 9, applying the bulk of the pressure in the second half, pulling the trigger at a 15 to 3 ratio. Haddock led the attack with a season-high seven shots.
Tigers keeper Maddie Prohaska picked up two saves in the contest to bring her career total to 152, just seven shy of surpassing Karina Micomonaco for the sixth-highest total in school history.
Up next, Auburn begins Southeastern Conference play on the road against Missouri. Kickoff from Columbia is slated for 5 p.m. CT.